Washing machine



Min-ch 24, 1931. E. w. LEATHERMA'N 97,

WASHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 8, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet i ami Leaihcvmzm atbozmq March 24, 1931. E. w.' LEATHERMAN v1397,474

WASHING MACHINE Filed'Sept. s, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 g @Q ms ma 5 g. E 3 m: g 5

Ear! Wleathemn 2 g; I I 61mm,

' March 24,1931. E. w. LEATHERMAN 1,

WASHING MACHINE Filed Sept. .8, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES EARL W. LEATHEBMAN, OF AKRON, OHIO WASHING MACHINE Application filed September 8, 1927. Serial No. 218,205.

My invention relates to washing machines and it has particular relation to a machine for washing fabric or textile materials by a continuous cycle of operation.

One object of my invention is to provide a machine which operates to cleanse fabric or textile material without subjecting such material to agitation against hard or blunt projections or surfaces. v

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine which is adapted to cleanse fabric or textile materials by forcing currents of fluid therethrough.

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine which is adapted to cleanse fabric or textile material in such manner that the material is held in a substantially fixed position with respect to a means for transporting it through the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a washing machine that will thoroughly cleanse fabric or textile articles on a large scale without injuring such articles.

Heretofore, numerous types of washing machines have been proposed, such as those having agitators which move relatively rapidly against the articles to be washed, while other types include scrubbing brushes operated mechanically against the articles. Also, rocking and rotatable tanks have been employed, the rocking or rotatable movement of which caused the cleansing fluid to surge against the articles until they had been more or less cleansed.

All of these types of machines subjected the fabric or textile material or articles to considerable wear and tear, and oftentimes caused serious injury thereto. It is also difficult to cleanse efliciently large quantities of laundry by the employment of machines of the type mentioned.

By practicing my invention the-disadvantage mentioned can be obviated by employing a machine having conveyor belt's,portions of whose lengths are contiguous substantially in parallel relation, and between which the garments or other articles to be washed are confined While they are being transported through one or more containers filled with cleansing fluid. The conveyor belts are composed of wire screen, cord netting, coarse cloth, or other suitable material which permits relatively free flow of fluid therethrough. WVhile the washable material or articles are being conveyed through the containers between the conveyors, currents of fluid are forced repeatedly from opposite sides of the belts through the latter, and consequently through the articles. The direction of flow of each current of fluid is reversed repeatedly as the articles are transported through the container, and each cur rent has sufficient force to loosen undissolved particles of foreign matter from the articles.

A circulating system is provided which is so constructed that a continuous supply of fresh soapy water or other cleansing fluid or rinsing water can be introduced into the containers adjacent the surfaces of the articles,

and the used fluid is forced out through overflow pipes.

A suitable loading platform over which the conveyor belt is trained forms a part of the machine; thus providing for the assembling of a complete washing of the machine is commenced. Also, wringers are provided adjacent the exit of each container.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may now be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, of which Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a machine embodying one form which my invention may assume, certain mechanical elements thereof being shown in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of a construction similar to that shown by Fig. 1, but including another form of fluid admitting means;

before the operation sion of the frame '12.

. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the machine taken substantially along the line III-III of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the machine shown by Fig. 1, parts thereof being broken away for the sake of clearness; and

Fig. 5 is an isometric view of a portion of the interior of the machine, parts thereof being omitted for the sake of clearness.

In practicing my invention 1 provide a plurality of containers or tanks and 11, which are mounted in superposed relation in a frame 12, forming a part thereof, and supported upon a suitable base 13. A motor 14 having an axial shaft 15 projecting therefrom is mounted upon the frame,-and is provided with a conventional gear reduction mechanism 16 for the purpose of driving-an additional axially aligned shaft 17 at a rela tively low rate of speed.

One end of the shaft 17 has a beveled gear 18 mounted thereon, which intermeshes with and drives a similar beveled gear 19 that is secured to one end of a relatively short shaft 20. Also, a similar gear 21 secured to the other end of the shaft '20'engagesand drives a relatively large gear 22. A pair of indentical gears 23, which .are secured to the inner ends of shafts 24 and 25' normally engage the gear 22, but maybe disengaged therefrom by manipulating a controlling handle 26. The other ends of the shafts 24 and 25 are provided with gears 27 and 28 that engage similargears 32 and 33 (Figs. 1 and 4') for the purpose of driving rollers 34 and 35,.respectively. Suitable bearings are provided in 'the frame .for the rollers, which arealso provided with endless chains 36 and 37, having conveyor belts 38 and 39, composed-of mesh materiahsecured thereto.

The conveyor belt 38 is provided with a horizontally disposed portion 42, which is adapted to travel over a loading platform 43, the latter of which comprises a lateral-exten- A roller 44 which is mounted upon the platform 43 supports the outer portion of the conveyor belt 38. The latter eonveyorbelt, together with-the chain 36, extends across the upper portionof the container 10, and is'trained over the roller 35,

through guide-ways 45 and 46 within-the container and between the roller 34 and an'adjacent roller 47 that is journaled in the machine frame. The rollers 34 and 47 are disposed closely together in parallel relation and serve as a wringer. From the roller 34 the conveyor is directed about a rounded edge portion 48 of the container 10, thence clownwardly into the container 11 and through guide-ways 52 and 53. After passing through the guideway53, the'conveyor38 is trained over a roller 54 mounted in the frame 12 adjacent the upper portion of the container 11, and thence beneath the container 11 through guideways 55 and '56. Finally,

a roller 57 mounted upon the platform 43 guides the conveyor back to the roller 44.

The other conveyor belt 39, together with the chain 37, is supported by rollers 58 and 59 mounted upon the frame 12 adjacent the roller 35, and is directed from these rollers into contiguous relation to the conveyor belt 38, extending together therewith through the guideways 45 and 46, between the rollers 34 and 47, into the container 11, through the guideways 52 and 53, until it reaches the roller 54. At this location, the conveyor is trained about a roller 62 and then extends upwardly to the roller 58, thus-completing its endless path. The rollers 54 and 62 are mounted sufliciently close together to serve as a wringer.

Asbest shown by Figs. 1 and 4, a relatively short shaft 63 has one end thereof attached to thereduction gear mechanism 16, and is driven by means of gears 64 intermeshing with the reduction gearing. The other end of this shaft is provided with a beveled gear 65, which 'intermeshes with-a'beveled gear 66 rigidly secured to a horizontally disposed crank shaft 67. Suitable bearingbrackets 68 secured to the frame, rotatably support the crank shaft adjacent its ends, and crank arms '69 are rigidly secured to the opposite ends of the crank shaft.

The outerend'of each cranka-rm 69 is pivoted, as indicated at 72, to one end of-a pitman rod 73. The other end of the pitman rod is pivoted, as indicated'at 74,t0 one end of a vertically 'reciprocable guiding rod 75, that is slidably mounted within a cylindrical guide 76 carried by the frame '12. The ends of arelatively short bar 77, that'is rigidly mounted transversely of the rod adjacent theupper end portion thereof, pivotally support downwardly extending are, in turn, pivoted to the outer ends of crank-arms 82 and 83. These crank arms are rigidly secured to horizontally disposed shafts 84 and 85 that are rotatably'mounted in the frame 12.

The shaft 84 is provided with segmental gears 86 and '87 that intermesh with-racks 88 'and89, formed upon horizontally disposed bars 92 and 93, respectively. A plurality of guiding brackets 94 and 95 and guiding braces '96 and 97 support the bars 92 and 93 upon boxes =98and 99, comprising compartments -102and 103, which include the walls of the boxes 98 and 99 and partitions 104 and 105. The boxes are secured by suitable means, including the brackets 94 and 95, within the container 10. The boxes 98 and 99 are spaced from each other, thereby forming a passageway 106, which is closed plates 107'rigidly secured thereto.

Horizontally disposed channel members 108 and 109 are rigidly securedto the ends of. the bars 92 and 93, and are actuated thereby during the operation of the bars 78 and 79 that at bothedges by side machine. The

intermediate portions of the bars 108 and 109 also rigidly support the ends of a plurality of piston rods 112 and 113, that are reciprocable within the compartments 102 and 103, respectively. A plurality of rectangular pistons 114 are secured at regularly spaced intervals to the piston rods 112, while a plurality of similarly spaced pistons 115 are secured in the same manner within the compartments 103 to the piston rods 113. It will be observed that the piston rods 112 and 113 are reciprocable concurrently in opposite directions by the oscillation of the segmental gears 86 and 87.

The shaft 85 is provided with segmental gears 116 and 117 rigidly secured thereto, which intermesh with racks 118 and 119, that are formed along the end portions of reciprocable horizontally disposed bars 122 and 123. Brackets 124 and 125, and transversely disposed bracing and guiding beams 126 and 127, serve as guides for directing the bars horizontally. The outer ends of the bars 122 and 123 are rigidly secured to channel memhere 128 and 129, respectively, which support intermediate their ends a plurality of piston rods 132 and 133. These piston rods extend into the compartments 102 and 103, respectively, and are provided with rectangular pistons 134 and 135 disposed adjacent the pistons 114 and 115, respectively. It will be observed that the piston rods 112 and 113 errtend slidably through the pistons 134 and 135, respectively, while the piston rods 132 and 133 likewise extend slidably through the pistons 114 and 115, respectively. Also, the piston rods 112 and 132 are reciprocable concurrently in opposite directions, and the pistons 115 and 135 are reciprocable concurrent ly in opposite directions. The space between adjacent pistons 114 and 134 alternately increases and decreases as the piston rods reciprocate in the compartments 102. Also, while the space between two adjacent pistons 114 and 134 is increasing, the space between two adjacent corresponding oppositely disposed pistons 115 and 135 is decreasing.

The conveyor belts 38 and 39, in contiguous relation, travel through the space 106 between the bores 98 and 99, and oppositely disposed openings 136 and 137, preferably in the form of slots, provided in the opposed walls of the compartments, are spaced be tween the respective pistons 114-134 and 115-135. Flexible gaskets 138 and 139 secured adjacent the openings or slots are adapted normally to cover a plurality of additional openings 142 and 143, formed adj acent the slots 136 and 137, respectively.

The lower portion of the reciprocable rod 7 5 is provided with a cross bar 145 rigidly secured thereto, which pivotally supports, as indicated at 146 and 147, a pair of links 148 and 149. A set of segmental gears and reciprocable members constructed and arranged in the same manner as those actuated by the members 82 and 83, above described, are connected, as indicated at 152 and 153, to the ends of the links 148 and 149. Since the construction, as well as the operation, of the members that are disposed within the container 11 is identical to that described in the foregoing paragraphs, the same reference characters are employed to designate similar parts. Accordingly, additional description thereof is not necessary for a thorough understanding of the invention.

A cleansing fluid is supplied to the containers 10 and 11 through pipe connections 154 and 155 having valves 156 and 157' for controlling the flow of fluid. These connections are provided with a plurality of pipes 158 and 159 forming manifolds, the outlets of which communicate with the compartments 102 and 103 above the region of the slots 136 and the openings 142. In the fluid supplying devices shown in Figs. 2 and 3 relatively narrow slots or similar openings 140, formed in tie upper walls of the boxes 98 and in the lower walls of the boxes 99, serve to facilitate proper circulation of the cleansing fluid and rinsing of the compartments after a cleansing operation has been performed. Strips 144 of suitable material secured to the boxes 98 arrest streams of fluid which are forced upwardly when adjacent pistons are 1 forced toward each other. If desirable, the manifolds 158 and 159 may be dispensed with the fluid may be permitted to enter the compartments through the slots 140, as shown by Fig. 3. The normal level of the cleansing fluid is indicated by heavy broken lines across the upper portions of the containers 10 and 11 shown by Fig. 1. It will thus be apparent that a continuous flow of cleansing fluid may be supplied while the machine is operating. This feature is particularly advantageous in facilitating the rinsing operation, which preferably is effected in the lower container 11.

The used fluid escapes through overflow pipes 162 and 163, which can be connected to suitable pipes for conveying the fluid away from he machine. Also, draining pipes 164 and 165 are provided for emptying the containers.

In the operation of the machine, articles to be cleansed are placed upon the upper reach of the conveyor belt 38 between the rollers 44 and 35, and along the platform 43, which serves to facilitate the arrangement of such articles. The containers 10 and 11 are filled with cleansing fluid and the motor 14 is energized. The conveyor belts 38 and 39 confine the articles between them as they meet adj acent the rollers 35 and 59, and the articles are transported through the container 10 at a relatively low rate of speed.

The motor 14 also drives the oscillating segments 8687 and 116117 which reciprocate the pistons 114115 and 134135, respectively, within the compartments 102 and 103. The separation and approach of the pistons 11 1 and 143 within the compartments 1102 creates strong currents of fluid alternately by pressure and by suction. At the same time, the oppositely disposed corresponding pistons 115 and 135 assist in creating these currents of fluid. lVhile the adjacent pistons within the compartments 102 are separating, a corresponding pair of pistons 115 and 135, oppositely disposed from the iirst, are approaching each other. This opposed alternating action of the pistons occurs throughout the compartments 102 and 103, thereby causing the fluid to flow with considerable force through the conveyor belts, and hence through the washable articles carried thereby. These currents 01" fluid are directed from one opening or slot 136 in one compartment, toward the opposing slot or opening 137 in the oppositely disposed compartment 103. The flexible wat r-tight gaskets 138 and 139 aid in properly directing the currents of fluid from one compartment to the other by uncovering the openings 1 12 and 143 in one direction of flow of the fluid and by closing these openings in theother direction of flow of the fluid. The surging action 01" the currents of fluid upon the conveyor belts 38 and 39 imparts a wave motion thereto, similar to the motion caused by oscillating one end of a rope hanging in the term of a catenary. The portions of the conveyor through which the fluid is forced strikes the adjacent portions of the boxes 98 and 99.

The operation of the machine with respect to the portions of the conveyor belts passing through the container 11 is substantially the same as that described in conjunction with the container 10. If desirable, the lower container 11 can be filled with rinsing fluid and the flnal rinsing of the articles can be effected therein. The cleansed articles are expelled from the conveyor belts 38 and as the latter pass over the rollers 5 and 62, which are disposed sutflciently close together toserve as .vringers. Then the articles are deposited upon a chute or inclined trough 166 from which they slide into a basket or other suitable receptacle 167.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that 1 provided a ins-chi e which requires only that the washable articles be placed upon the conveyor belts and the machine automatically accomplishes the cleansing operation in a thoroughly eflicient manner, and without injury to the articles. It is to be understood that the containers 10 and 11 can be arranged tandem and in considerably spaced relation, if desired.

Although I have illustrated'but one form which my invention may assume and have described in detail but a single application thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but that various minor modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

WVhatl claim is:

1. A washing machine comprising a container, a driven .foraminous conveyor disposed in the container for carrying washable articles, means for supplying fluid to the container, and suction and pressure producing means coacting on opposite sides of the conveyor for forcingfluid transversely through the conveyor as it travels through the con tainer. 7

2. A washing machine comprising a container, a driven foraminous conveyor directed into the container for carrying washable articles, a mechanism disposed upon each side of the conveyor within the container, means for supplying fluid to the mechanisms, suction producing means included in the mechanisms for drawing fluid from opposite sides-of and through the conveyor.

3. A washing machine comprising a container, a foraminous conveyor directed into the container for carrying washable articles, a mechanism disposed on each side of the conveyor within the container, means for supplying fluid to the mechanisms, whereby a substantial portion of the conveyor within the container is submerged, said mechanisms including normally submerged coacting pumping devices substantially registering with each other on opposite sides of the submerged portions of the conveyor for forcing currents of fluid in opposite directions through the conveyor.

4. A washing machine comprising a fluid container, a driven foraminous conveyor directed into the conveyor for carrying washable articles, a mechanism having a plurality of compartments therein disposed on each side of the conveyor within the container, said compartments having openings therein adjacent opposite sides of g the conveyor, means for supplying fluid to the compart- .ments, and means in the compartments for forcing fluid through the openings and conveyor from one compartment on one side of the conveyor to a corresponding compart- -ment on the other side of the conveyor.

5. A washing machine comprising a container, a driven foraminous conveyor directed into the container for carrying washable articles, a plurality of compartments having openings therein arranged within the container adjacent the conveyor, on opposite sides, means for supplying fluid to the compartments, a plurality of pistons reciprocable in the compartments for forcing the fluid from one compartment into another through the openings and conveyor.

6. A washing machine comprising a fluid container, a driven foraminous conveyor directed into the container for carrying washable articles, a plurality of compartments having openings therein arranged on opposite sides of the conveyor, means for supplying fluid to the compartments, and pairs of pistons provided with means to reciprocate pistons of each pair in opposite directions within the compartments for forcing the fluid through he openings and conveyor.

7. A washing machine comprising a fluid container, a plurality of compartments havingopenings therein arranged within the container, a driven foraminous conveyor directed through the container for carrying washable articles, means for supplying fluid to the compartments, oscillatory members, a common means for driving the conveyor and the oscillatory members, a pair of piston rods in each compartment, a plurality of pistons rigidly secured to each rod, each piston rod being slidably disposed through the pistons of the other piston rod, said oscillatory members having driving connections with the piston rods to operate adjacent pistons toward and away from each other for forcing fluid through the openings and conveyor.

8. A washing machine comprising a fluid container, a driven foraminous conveyor directed into the container for carrying washable articles, hollow members disposed on opposite sides of the conveyor each having a plurality of openings therein in oppositely disposed zones disposed transversely of the conveyor, means for supplying fluid to the hollow members, means in the members for forcing fluid in opposite directions through adjacent oppositely disposed openings, means including segmental gears having racks intermeshing with the gears connected to the first mentioned means, and means for actuating the segmental gears.

9. A washing machine comprising a fluid container, a driven foraminous conveyor directed through the container for carrying washable articles, a hollow member disposed on each side of the conveyor, said members having a plurality of openings in oppositely disposed zones transversely of the conveyor, devices for supplying fluid to the hollow members, means in the members for forcing fluid alternately 1n opposite directions through the adjacent oppositely disposed openings, means for driving the last mentioned means including a motor, a crank shaft operatively connected thereto, and a plurality of intermeshing segmental gear and rack devices oscillatable by operation of the crank shaft and operatively connected to the first mentioned means.

10. A washing machine comprising a fluid container, a double web mesh conveyor directed through the container for carrying washable articles between the webs, members disposed on opposite sides of the conveyor having a plurality of openings in oppositely disposed zones transversely of the conveyor, devices for supplying fluid to the members,

means in the members for forcing fluid alternately in opposite directions through the adjacent oppositely disposed openings, means for driving the last mentioned means including a motor, a crank shaft operatively connected to the motor, a plurality of intermeshing segmental gear and rack devices osci1- latable by the operation of the crank shaft and operatively connected to the first mentioned means, and connecting members actuated by the motor for driving the conveyor.

11. 'A washing machine comprising a fluid container, spaced mechanisms disposed within the container, a foraminous conveyor for carrying washable articles directed into the container through the space between the mechanisms, pumping devices included in the mechanisms for forcing fluid alternately in opposite directions through the conveyor, portions of the conveyor being movable transversely of its path of movement through the container, said portions being movable transversely in opposite directions under the influence of the forced fluid to strike said mechanisms, and a manifold mounted within the container adjacent the conveyor for supplying fluid continuously through the mechanisms.

12. A washing machine comprising a plurality of fluid containers, a foraminous conveyor directed continuously through said containers for carrying washable articles, mechanisms in each container disposed on opposite sides of the conveyor within the respective containers, pumping devices included in the mechanisms for forcing fluid alternately in opposite directions through the conveyor in each container, and independently operable fluid-supplying devices connected to each mechanism for directing fluid to the respective mechanisms in each container.

13. A washing machine comprising a plurality of fluid containers, a foraminous conveyor directed continuously through said containers for carrying washable articles, a plurality of compartments having openings therein disposed within each container, means for supplying fluid into the container to submerge the compartments, pumping devices in each compartment for forcing currents of fluid through the openings and conveyor, and means common to the pumping devices in each container for driving said pumping devices concurrently.

14. A washing machine comprising a plurality of fluid containers, a pair of foraminous conveyor belts directed continuously through said containers for carrying washable articles, a portion of one conveyor belt extending in substantially a horizontal direc tion at one side of one of the containers, means for supporting said portion, means for directing portions of the conveyor belts in contiguous relation through said containers, a plurality of compartments having openings flii'in aria-flged on oppbS'i-t sidbf t h pa-e11 Of'the configuo'us pofti'Ons' of the ciilfi eytif belts in each conta'ir'i'er} means for s'lipplyi fig" flil'i'd to' the compartments; a plu'i'aklifiy of umpin devices in each cbmpar'tment" 01 iarcmg' fluid through the opehing and cohvey'or belt s, rllers dilecfing the conveyor Belts iii close relation at one extremity of (Sheof'the-contziiners, and Hians (somm'on to the pumping devis and to the conveyor belts 61" driving the conveyor belts and the-pfil rip ifi de'vices' conurr'ntly;

EARL W. LEATHERMAN;

, my name. 

